Fisheries Technician I/II

POSITION TITLE : Fisheries Technician I/II (Grande Ronde Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation and Biomonitoring Project) SALARY : Pay Range: 4-5 (Fish Tech I: $29,844 - $51,888 annual) 5-6 (Fish Tech II: $33,444 - $52,512 annual) DOE/DOQ DEPARTMENT: Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Department LOCATION : Position located at CTUIR DNR-Fisheries Program field office, Oregon State University Ag Services Building, Island City, Oregon. EMPLOYMENT STATUS : Full time with benefits package Non-Exempt SUPERVISED BY : Grande Ronde Research Monitoring and Evaluation (RM&E) Project Leader (9 months), Biomonitoring Project Leader, Assistant Project Leaders (3 months), and Field Supervisors OPENING DATE : March 21, 2023 CLOSING DATE : April 14, 2023 CTUIR MISSION STATEMENT Exercise the Tribes sovereign authority to achieve the maximum protection of resources identified in the Treaty of 1855, to protect newly acquired lands wherein the Tribe has a vested interest, to protect the lands of all the citizens and residents of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. DNR Mission Statement To protect, restore, and enhance the first foods water, salmon, deer, cous, and huckleberry for the perpetual cultural, economic, and sovereign benefit of the CTUIR.

We will accomplish this utilizing traditional ecological and cultural knowledge and science to inform: 1) population and habitat management goals and actions; and 2) natural resources policies and regulatory mechanisms. Fisheries Mission Statement To provide sustainable harvest opportunities for aquatic species of the First Foods order by protecting, conserving, and restoring native aquatic populations and their habitats. Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation: To generate knowledge regarding the biological performance and ecology of aquatic species of the First Food order in a scientifically credible and policy relevant manner to inform management and policy decisions .

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES This position is primarily a field technician and will be responsible for assisting the Grande Ronde Fisheries RM&E project and the Biomonitoring Project with all research, monitoring, and evaluation activities. Technician will be responsible for conducting a variety of field activities to monitor salmon, steelhead, Bull trout, Lamprey, native and non-native fish, and their habitats within the lands of traditional use. Tasks include operating and maintaining sampling equipment, handling fish, collecting data on fish, macroinvertebrates, and wildlife and their habitats, morphological surveys, operating screw trap (week days and some weekends), spawning ground surveys, snorkel surveys, fish salvage, macro invertebrate identification and sorting in a lab, assisting other research as needed, monitoring and evaluation of restoration and reintroduction projects and performing other duties as assigned.

Some data entry and data QA/QC work will be conducted as part of this position, however this position will involve mostly field work. This position will be based out of the La Grande field office but work sites will be within the ceded territory of the Umatilla Tribe and cover the Grande Ronde, John Day, Umatilla, Walla Walla, and Tucannon basins habitat restoration projects. Extensive travel by vehicle is therefore a large part of this position requirement.

The work week is typically 37.5 hours Monday through Friday, with a 07:30 am start time. This position will involve some weekend work and some early starts. The time taken to complete field work can be unpredictable (can be up to 12 hour days), therefore a flexible work schedule is used to maintain the 37.5 hour work week.

There may be limited opportunity for compensation time to be accrued when field work demands longer hours. Funding for this position is from Bonneville Power Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lower Snake River Compensation Plan, and the Bureau of Reclamation agreements with CTUIR and is subject to the continuation of this funding.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Fish and Habitat Monitoring and Evaluation Spawning Surveys: Conduct spawning surveys up to five days a week for steelhead, Chinook, and other species as required. Surveys will follow established protocols. Surveys are physically demanding, and involve walking many miles on uneven, rough, wet, and slippery terrain over deadfalls in and out of the water.

Work requires hiking in steep, brushy, terrain in inclement weather without the benefit of roads or trails. Surveys require collecting biological information from fish carcasses and habitat information at redd locations. Surveys are required to be completed in a timely manner so that carpooling with other surveyors can be coordinated beforehand and staff time is efficiently managed.

Spawning surveys are March to June for steelhead and August through September for Chinook. Lamprey spawning surveys may be added to the work schedule as populations increase in the Basin and can occur in July to August. Bull trout surveys may be added as monitoring and evaluation needs arise and occur in October through November.

Operate weirs and screw traps: March to November. Work requires being in the water in all weather conditions, following standard operating procedures and protocols to safely handle live fish, remove and store scales, collect genetic samples, anesthetize and mark/tag fish, collect biological information, collect gastric lavage samples, and accurately record information on paper and computers. The screw trap and weir trap operation will require some weekend work.

Arrangements for alternate weekend work will be coordinated with the project biologists. Assist with other RM&E project activities in the tribes ceded territory: This will include electrofishing, snorkel surveys, netting, marking and tagging fish, collecting scales, collect gastric lavage samples. Use radio telemetry equipment to track adult and juvenile fish.

Collect accurate data from fish, macroinvertebrates, wildlife, and their habitats. Perform other duties as required to support the Fisheries Program. Conduct habitat surveys: June-November, and attend training as needed.

Surveys are physically demanding and involve walking many miles on uneven, rough, wet, and slippery terrain in and out of the water in all weather conditions. Equipment maintenance: Clean and maintain gear, equipment and vehicles, and perform other related duties as assigned. Data management: Enter field data into the Central Database Management System (CDMS) or other format.

Error check data and assist GIS department with data entry/error checking as needed. Develop and maintain positive working relationships with Tribal employees, state and federal resource agency personnel, the public and others involved with salmonid recovery in the Grande Ronde River Basin. SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY: None SIGNATORY AUTHORITY: None ACCESS TO SENSITIVE AREAS: None